From fleece to fabric at Farmers’ Market

The July Farmers’ Market at Orton (Saturday 14 July) will be a celebration of sheep, especially local breeds and those bred for their wool. Market regulars from Raisgill Hall, Steve Dunning and his son, Michael will be demonstrating sheep shearing (or clipping) during the morning and, inside the Market Hall, members of The Wool Clip cooperative will be spinning and using a number of different approaches to weaving.

“Sheep are a familiar sight in the fields and on the hills around Orton and at the heart of the local economy,” says Market Co-ordinator, Leanne Duerden, “so we try to focus on them for at least one market each year. It helps that Steve and Michael can bring some of their flock into the village for the demonstrations and the shearing usually draws a crowd.”

“Several members of the award-winning Wool Clip cooperative, including Jan Hicks from just outside Orton, will be involved on the day too,” says Leanne, “demonstrating their skills and talking to visitors about wool crafts and techniques.”

Orton Farmers’ Market was recently hit by the theft of its van and a large proportion of its equipment but the show goes on and stallholders have rallied to ensure that not only Orton, but also the markets at Holker, Cartmel, Brampton and Brough that use the same equipment, can continue.

“We’d hoped that whoever stole the van would maybe dump the contents and we’d be able to trace and retrieve them,” says Leanne, “but that’s looking less and less likely now. Everyone has been a great support and we can continue to rent stalls from Made in Cumbria at present until the insurance comes through and we are able to replace everything.”

Orton Farmers’ Market opens at 9.30am and runs until 2pm on Saturday 14 July and there will be refreshments available throughout the day in the Market Hall, at All Saints’ Church and also at Kennedy’s Chocolates café and The George Hotel.